°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
s¡¡to¡¡open¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡confess¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡within¡¡my¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡must¡¡find¡¡some¡¡other¡¡shelter¡¡before¡¡dawn¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Bianca¡¡began¡¡to¡¡weep£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡became¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¡made¡¡another¡¡assault¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡door¡¡just¡¡to¡¡spite¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡stood¡¡back¡¡and¡¡bid¡¡the¡¡door¡¡open¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡my¡¡mind¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡result£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡beat¡¡down¡¡hard¡¡against¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡Bianca's¡¡weeping¡¡infuriated¡¡me¡¡to¡¡where¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡words¡¡that¡¡weren't¡¡true¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡made¡¡this¡¡door¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡open¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¨Only¡¡give¡¡me¡¡time¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡what¡¡I¡¡must¡¡do¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡visibly¡¡hurt¡¡by¡¡my¡¡anger£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡in¡¡a¡¡miserable¡¡yet¡¡humble¡¡voice¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡me£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡inside¡¡this¡¡place£¿¡¡I¡¡can¡¡hear¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡sound¡¡from¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡all¡¡too¡¡like¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡heartbeat¡£¡¡Why¡¡have¡¡we¡¡e¡¡here£¿¡¡Where¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡go¡¡if¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡find¡¡shelter¡¡here£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡of¡¡these¡¡questions¡¡angered¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Bianca£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡where¡¡I¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡falling¡¡on¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡shoulders£»¡¡her¡¡head¡¡bowed£»¡¡her¡¡tears¡¡glistening¡¡and¡¡red¡¡as¡¡always£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡ashamed¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡so¡¡used¡¡her¡¡in¡¡my¡¡weakness¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡so¡¡to¡¡be¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡her¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Be¡¡still¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡open¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡no¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡what¡¡lies¡¡within¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡will¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡great¡¡sigh¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡my¡¡burnt¡¡hand¡¡still¡¡tightened¡¡on¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡handle¡¡and¡¡with¡¡all¡¡my¡¡strength¡¡I¡¡pulled£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡make¡¡the¡¡door¡¡budge¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡absolute¡¡folly¡¡of¡¡it¡¡gripped¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡gain¡¡no¡¡admittance£¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡weak£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡how¡¡long¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be¡¡too¡¡weak¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡£¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡made¡¡one¡¡attempt¡¡after¡¡another£»¡¡only¡¡so¡¡that¡¡Bianca¡¡would¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡protect¡¡her£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡gain¡¡entry¡¡to¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡place¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Finally¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡of¡¡Holies£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡gathered¡¡her¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡covered¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡warm¡¡her¡¡as¡¡best¡¡I¡¡could¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Very¡¡soon£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡find¡¡us¡¡shelter¡¡this¡¡night¡£¡¡Don't¡¡doubt¡£¡¡For¡¡now£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡say¡¡only¡¡that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡a¡¡place¡¡which¡¡I¡¡built¡¡and¡¡which¡¡is¡¡known¡¡to¡¡me¡¡only¡¡and¡¡which¡¡I'm¡¡too¡¡weak¡¡now¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡as¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Forgive¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡cried£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡gently¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡won't¡¡see¡¡tears¡¡from¡¡me¡¡again¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡I¡¡hear£¿¡¡Can't¡¡humans¡¡hear¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡they¡¡cannot£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¨Please¡¡be¡¡still¡¡for¡¡now£»¡¡my¡¡brave¡¡darling¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment£»¡¡that¡¡very¡¡single¡¡moment£»¡¡another¡¡new¡¡and¡¡altogether¡¡different¡¡sound¡¡caught¡¡my¡¡ear£»¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡which¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡by¡¡anyone¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡door¡¡opening¡¡behind¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡infallibly¡¡and¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡around£»¡¡unbelieving¡¡and¡¡as¡¡fearful¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡amazed¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quickly¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡Bianca¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡the¡¡door¡¡as¡¡it¡¡opened¡¡wide¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡racing¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡fill¡¡my¡¡lungs¡¡with¡¡air¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡only¡¡Akasha¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡door¡¡fell¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡back£»¡¡I¡¡perceived¡¡another¡¡miracle¡¡of¡¡equal¡¡kindness¡¡and¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I'd¡¡never¡¡dreamt¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡abundant¡¡light¡¡poured¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡passage¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡stunned¡¡to¡¡move¡£¡¡Then¡¡pure¡¡happiness¡¡descended¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡as¡¡I¡¡gazed¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡flood¡¡of¡¡beautiful¡¡light¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡possibly¡¡fear¡¡it¡¡or¡¡doubt¡¡its¡¡meaning¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨e¡¡now£»¡¡Bianca£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡guided¡¡her¡¡forward¡¡at¡¡my¡¡side¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡clutched¡¡her¡¡bundle¡¡to¡¡her¡¡chest¡¡as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡would¡¡die¡¡if¡¡she¡¡let¡¡go¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡held¡¡her¡¡as¡¡though¡¡without¡¡her¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡with¡¡me¡¡I¡¡would¡¡fall¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡passage¡¡and¡¡made¡¡our¡¡way¡¡slowly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡and¡¡flickering¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chapel¡£¡¡All¡¡its¡¡many¡¡bronze¡¡lamps¡¡were¡¡aglow¡£¡¡Its¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡candles¡¡blazed¡¡exquisitely¡£¡¡And¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡had¡¡I¡¡taken¡¡note¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡amid¡¡a¡¡subdued¡¡glory¡¡that¡¡filled¡¡me¡¡with¡¡joy£»¡¡than¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡door¡¡was¡¡closed¡¡behind¡¡us¡¡with¡¡a¡¡crushing¡¡sound¡¡as¡¡rock¡¡sounded¡¡against¡¡rock¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡staring¡¡over¡¡the¡¡row¡¡of¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡candles¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Divine¡¡Mother¡¡and¡¡Father£»¡¡seeing¡¡them¡¡as¡¡perhaps¡¡Bianca¡¡would¡¡see¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡with¡¡refreshed¡¡and¡¡grateful¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knelt¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡Bianca¡¡knelt¡¡at¡¡my¡¡side¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡trembling¡£¡¡Indeed¡¡my¡¡shock¡¡was¡¡so¡¡great¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡fill¡¡my¡¡lungs¡¡with¡¡air¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡way¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡explain¡¡to¡¡Bianca¡¡the¡¡full¡¡import¡¡of¡¡what¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡place¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡only¡¡frighten¡¡her¡¡if¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡And¡¡careless¡¡words¡¡spoken¡¡before¡¡my¡¡Queen¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unforgivable¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡speak£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡finally¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡whisper¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡are¡¡our¡¡Parents¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡lamps¡¡for¡¡us¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡candles¡£¡¡You¡¡cannot¡¡imagine¡¡the¡¡worth¡¡of¡¡this¡¡blessing¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡weled¡¡us¡¡inside¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡answer¡¡them¡¡only¡¡with¡¡prayers¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Bianca¡¡nodded¡£¡¡Her¡¡face¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡piety¡¡and¡¡wonder¡£¡¡Did¡¡it¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡Akasha¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡an¡¡exquisite¡¡blood¡¡drinker£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡low¡¡reverent¡¡voice¡¡I¡¡recounted¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Divine¡¡Parents¡¡but¡¡only¡¡in¡¡the¡¡simplest¡¡and¡¡grandest¡¡terms¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡Bianca¡¡how¡¡they¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡very¡¡first¡¡blood¡¡drinkers¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡in¡¡Egypt£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡now¡¡they¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡hungered¡¡for¡¡blood¡¡or¡¡even¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡spoke¡¡or¡¡moved¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡their¡¡keeper¡¡and¡¡their¡¡guardian¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡for¡¡all¡¡of¡¡my¡¡life¡¡as¡¡a¡¡blood¡¡drinker¡¡and¡¡so¡¡it¡¡would¡¡always¡¡be¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡said¡¡these¡¡things¡¡so¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡would¡¡alarm¡¡Bianca¡¡and¡¡she¡¡would¡¡feel¡¡no¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡still¡¡figures¡¡who¡¡stared¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡horrifying¡¡silence£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡even¡¡to¡¡blink¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡tender¡¡Bianca¡¡was¡¡initiated¡¡into¡¡these¡¡powerful¡¡mysteries¡¡with¡¡great¡¡care¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡them¡¡beautiful¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡more¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡this¡¡chapel£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡explained£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡e¡¡when¡¡I¡¡left¡¡Venice£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡would¡¡light¡¡the¡¡lamps¡¡for¡¡the¡¡King¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Queen£»¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡fresh¡¡flowers¡£¡¡You¡¡see£»¡¡there¡¡are¡¡none¡¡now¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡will¡¡bring¡¡them¡¡when¡¡I¡¡can¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Once¡¡again£»¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡my¡¡enthusiasm¡¡and¡¡gratitude£»¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡really¡¡make¡¡her¡¡know¡¡what¡¡a¡¡miracle¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡Akasha¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡for¡¡us£»¡¡or¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡lamps¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡this¡¡respectful¡¡recital£»¡¡I¡¡closed¡¡my¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡I¡¡thanked¡¡both¡¡Akasha¡¡and¡¡Enkil¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡admitted¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sanctuary£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡greeted¡¡us¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡of¡¡light¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡I¡¡offered¡¡my¡¡prayers£»¡¡perhaps¡¡unable¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡grasp¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡so¡¡weled¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡too¡¡certain¡¡of¡¡what¡¡it¡¡really¡¡meant¡£¡¡Was¡¡I¡¡loved£¿¡¡Was¡¡I¡¡needed£¿¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡I¡¡must¡¡accept¡¡without¡¡presumption¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡I¡¡must¡¡be¡¡grateful¡¡without¡¡imagining¡¡things¡¡that¡¡weren't¡¡so¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knelt¡¡in¡¡quietude¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡and¡¡Bianca¡¡must¡¡surely¡¡have¡¡observed¡¡me¡¡for¡¡she¡¡too¡¡was¡¡quiet£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡could¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡thirst¡¡no¡¡longer¡£¡¡I¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡Akasha¡£¡¡I¡¡desired¡¡the¡¡Blood¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Blood¡£¡¡All¡¡my¡¡injuries¡¡were¡¡as¡¡so¡¡many¡¡open¡¡wounds¡¡in¡¡me¡£¡¡And¡¡my¡¡wounds¡¡bled¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Blood¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡all¡powerful¡¡Blood¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Queen¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡beauty£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡placing¡¡my¡¡gloved¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡Bianca's¡¡tender¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡there¡¡and¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡quiet£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡what¡¡you¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡what¡¡will¡¡happen£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡whispered¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡she¡¡sounded¡¡afraid¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡about¡¡herself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shivering¡¡flames¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lamps£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡glowing¡¡candles£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡painted¡¡walls¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡as¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡say¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡for¡¡how¡¡was¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡to¡¡know¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡Queen¡¡would¡¡let¡¡me¡¡drink£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Bianca¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡with¡¡her¡¡heavy¡¡cloak¡¡wrapped¡¡around¡¡her¡¡and¡¡as¡¡far¡¡away¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡for¡¡whatever¡¡good¡¡it¡¡would¡¡do£»¡¡I¡¡prayed¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Blood¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡see¡¡me¡¡and¡¡what¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡silently£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡burnt¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡why¡¡you¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡for¡¡me¡¡and¡¡admitted¡¡me£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡surely¡¡you¡¡see¡¡what¡¡a¡¡monster¡¡I¡¡have¡¡bee¡£¡¡Have¡¡mercy¡¡on¡¡me¡¡and¡¡let¡¡me¡¡drink¡¡from¡¡you¡¡as¡¡you¡¡have¡¡done¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡the¡¡Blood¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡it¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡needed¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡I¡¡e¡¡to¡¡you¡¡with¡¡respect¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡removed¡¡my¡¡leather¡¡mask¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡it¡¡aside¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡as¡¡hideous¡¡now¡¡as¡¡those¡¡old¡¡burnt¡¡gods¡¡whom¡¡Akasha¡¡had¡¡once¡¡crushed¡¡when¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Would¡¡she¡¡refuse¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡manner£¿¡¡Or¡¡had¡¡she¡¡known¡¡all¡¡along¡¡what¡¡had¡¡befallen¡¡me£¿¡¡Had¡¡